Gulfstream Park: Sister Troienne scores in opening-day stakes

Brian Lynch has become a familiar face in the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle over the past several winters. It had been nearly a decade since jockey Mario Gutiérrez, who is based in California and Kentucky, found his way there.

Lynch and Gutiérrez were there together Thursday after Woodslane Farm homebred Sister Troienne rolled past long shot Day to Day in the stretch for a three-length victory in the $100,000 Wait a While Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

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The 12th running of the Wait a While headlined an eight-race Thanksgiving program that marked the opening of the 2025-26 championship meet.

Afternoon rain forced the Wait a While, carded for 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass, to the synthetic Tapeta course at one mile and 70 yards. The winning time was 1:40.53.

It was the third straight win for Sister Troienne ($3.40) in her stakes debut. Like her six rivals, she raced on Tapeta for the first time.

“There’s always concern (when) you’re backing her up in distance, and it’s a new surface,” Lynch said. “There’s a lot of concern, but she’s a beautiful, big, sound filly, and she’s always acted like she’s got a lot of talent, so it was worth taking a chance.”

Day to Day, sent off at 25-1, raced uncontested on an early lead, going the opening quarter-mile in 25.25 seconds. She was tracked by Backgammon in second with Gutiérrez and Sister Troienne racing in the clear three wide in third.

The pace picked up slightly with a half-mile in 48.73 seconds. Day to Day clung to the lead while R Slew of Cash, Backgammon and Sister Troienne competed on even terms for second.

Gutiérrez maintained course rounding the second turn and set Sister Troienne down for a drive at the top of the stretch. Sister Troienne corralled Day to Day approaching the eighth pole and drew] clear to give the three-time classic-winning jockey his first Gulfstream win since Nyquist captured the 2016 Florida Derby (G1) as a prelude to their triumph in the Kentucky Derby.

“I have a lot of memories with Nyquist, who won the Kentucky Derby. I won the Florida Derby with him. It was a beautiful moment here,” Gutiérrez said. “We had a surface change at the last minute, but we had confidence in (Sister Troienne). She’s a very classy filly. I think her best is on the turf, but she’s the kind of filly that can do anything.”

Day to Day held second followed in order by R Slew of Cash, Amberglen, Backgammon, Slippers and Devilish Grin. Our Dear Peggy winner Spirit Doll, Haute Diva, Special Wood and also-eligible Girvana were scratched.

Sister Troienne began her career on dirt, finishing third in a six-furlong, maiden special weight Aug. 23 at Ellis Park. She won her next two tries on the turf at Churchill Downs and Keeneland by eight combined lengths. All three races were with Gutiérrez aboard.

“Mario felt like she would be a lot closer than she has in her previous races, so it worked out perfectly,” Lynch said. “Out of a Lemon Drop Kid mare, she acts like she wants to run a mile-and-a-quarter down the road. We all know when the (Tapeta) gets a little bit wet, it can be tiring, and it suits route horses a little bit better. It worked out good today.”

Lynch mentioned the $150,000 Ginger Brew for 3-year-old fillies going one mile on the turf Jan. 3 as a possible next start for Sister Troienne. Her victory was the second on the day for Lynch, who won 17 of 106 races and more than $1 million in purses during last winter’s championship meet.

“This is where my winter base is, and I love coming back here. We had a good summer, and it’s great to just finish off the year like we’re doing it,” Lynch said. “The Ginger Brew would be on the radar. Then you try to look after her during the winter here and point her toward a good spring campaign, and hopefully she stays nice and healthy.”